Bronx Medical Malpractice

When you see a doctor, dentist, chiropractor any other healthcare provider for treatment, it is reasonable that you expect to have safe and competent care. In fact, you have the right to it. Generally speaking healthcare professionals do provide quality, competent care. However, there are occasions when the services provided by healthcare professionals do fall short because of a medical misdiagnosis or some other type of negligence. In some of those cases the results are tragic. Whether in a hospital, doctor's office, urgent care facility, or nursing facility, such lapses are responsible for preventable deaths and injuries in New York. When this happens, the patient and the patient's family deserve to be compensated for losses suffered through a medical malpractice lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit. If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice it is important to speak with an experienced Bronx medical malpractice lawyer who will ensure that your rights are protected and who will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Common types of medical malpractice

A wide variety of situations can lead to a medical malpractice claim. For example, a claim could be based on a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, failure to diagnose a serious illness such as cancer, emergency room errors, a delay in treating a medical condition, medication errors, anesthesia errors, and surgical errors. However, most medical malpractice claims fall into one of three general categories: failure to diagnose, improper treatment, and failure to warn.

Example

Plaintiff Willi Braun complained to his physician, Dr. Naseer Ahmed, of an irritation on the foreskin of his penis. Dr. Ahmed diagnosed an inflamed foreskin and prescribed an ointment. Since Braun's condition did not improve after 7 months, Dr. Ahmed recommended a circumcision. Braun scheduled the circumcision for the next month, but cancelled. Braun continued under the defendant's care for another medical condition. A year later Braun was circumcised after his condition deterioriated. A biopsy revealed cancer and Braun had to have a partial penectomy a month later. Braun filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Ahmed based on Dr. Ahmed's failure to warn Braun of the possibility of penile cancer and that his condition did not require immediate surgery. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Braun. Braun v. Ahmed, 515 N.Y.S.2d 473 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept., 1987)

Pursuing damages

Patients injured by malpractice in New York are entitled to compensation for their resulting medical expenses related to the breach of care. A successful claim can also result in damages for:

Lost wages, including lost future wages. Victims with serious injuries typically miss work. Some miss week and even months of work. In the most extreme cases the victim’s injury is so debilitating that he or she is not able to ever return to work.

Pain and suffering. This refers to the physical and mental suffering that the victim experiences. Pain and suffering is often awarded in medical malpractice cases because of the extreme pain and additional medical treatment that is often involved after a medical mistake.

Sadly, the result of medical malpractice is that the patient dies. This happens far too often. If the patient died due to a medical mistake, the victim's personal representative can pursue compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. Damages from a wrongful death claim can include medical expenses of the deceased, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of support.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

If you or a loved one was injured due to the incompetence of a healthcare professional, you should contact an experienced attorney who understands the legal issues associated with medical malpractice cases. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in handling cases involving medical misdiagnosis, failure to warn, improper treatment, as well as other types of medical malpractice claims. In addition, we also represent clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other types of accidents. Contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW (1-800-696-9529) to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

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